Planeta Estate: Wine Tasting

22 March 2014

The table is set.

Some sparkling

Tour of Vineyards

Planeta Estate

We visited Cantina Feudo di Mezza.

The walls were created as workers cleared the fields.

Antipasti

Thank you, Tony and Josie!

We enjoyed the day.

End of a very pleasant tasting....or not....
We picked up our order today!

St.Anastasia - Special Appearance!

23 March 2014

 

 With the visit of the Franciscan Missionaries, Sunday Mass was offered with a special appearance of the beautiful statue of Motta's Patron Saint, Anastasia. Usually saints appear only on their day or maybe three days at most. Cecilia and I rushed into town after church on base not wanting to miss this special occasion. 

(I saw her one time during the day a year or so ago. Cecilia and I returned to town that same evening, but could not even get through the baton twirlers who performed in the street. Cecilia questioned if St. Anastasia might be the patron saint of majorettes!)
 

We sat in two of the few remaining chairs as we had

arrived early. Excellent choice as we didn't know how she would be

presented. The church was packed - seated and standing. And, we were graciously

greeted by those we had met a few days ago plus Mario and Antonella.

St. Anastasia's entrance was dramatic.

The doors over a side altar opened slowly......

 

.......the statue

slowly slid forward.
So dramatic; so beautiful!

Since the crowd was so large, and we had attended an
earlier service, we opted to enjoy the view of the valley.....

.....and eat breakfast. Probably a smart move as we heard later that

the service lasted three hours. Two little ladies appreciated

 the chairs we offered them.

It's what rugby players eat for breakfast!

 

Gelato tucked into brioche!

St. Joseph's Day.....Procession and Bells!

19 March 2014

 

Flint and I decided to walk into town to find the San Guiseppe procession where we knew we could greet the Franciscan Missionaries again, then grab a bite to eat. Only in Sicily! Who knew that this evening would become one of our most memorable EVER!

 

As we strolled into town overlooking the valley, the crispelli vendor had just set up. We bought a Euro's worth, sat on a bench to munch on a couple. (The benches face the street rather than the gorgeous valley.)

Fireworks caught our attention in a few minutes. We tracked them down to find the procession, Mario, Antonella, Agata, the priests and the missionaries! It didn't take much persuading for Flint to grab the rope that pulls the carriage that also has a tractor and driver hidden underneath. One of the priests on the carriage rings a bell for stops and starts. I took a few pics and found a place on the rope, too.

 

 

 

Stop for pyrotechnics
The fireworks alert people so they can come outside.

 

A fireman stands near me as I take the pic. 

Slowly turning a corner

Mario asked us to come with him, and we
walked quickly up the street
and climbed some very narrow
steps up to the top of the bell tower.
 

With remaining crispelli still in hand.

Mario with the pros!

 

Bells and fireworks as St. Joseph enters the church!

(My thought was that my tinnitus would be cured when I could hear
again, but no.....the ears still buzz.)

Thank you, Mario, for the video and an evening to remember!